How To Force Windows 7 To Open Excel Spreadsheets in Separate Windows…

December 1st, 2011 by Chris Shalda | Filed under Microsoft, Office 2010, Windows 7.

As IT consultants, we occasionally find ourselves with large spreadsheets that need to be reviewed with human eyes (rather than by filters or scripts) for inspection or comparison, etc.

The other day I was quite frustrated while comparing a large amount of data between two Excel spreadsheets.  I had to constantly switch between each spreadsheet, or set them up side by side in the same window.  Since I have two monitors (of course), I wanted to be able to take advantage of ALL my screen real estate for my spreadsheet needs.  I searched a bit, and found a cool tip on the WhiteSites Blog from author Paul White (thanks Paul!) for my conundrum; and since Paul’s original post is mostly for Office 2003 (with updates for 2007/2010), I thought I should share a “readers digest” version of only the 2007/2010 version of it here.

Again, please note that these instructions are specifically for Excel 2007/2010. 

WARNING: Always backup your registry before making any changes. Do not attempt to perform these tasks if you are not comfortable with editing the registry.  Seriously.  Don’t.

  • Open Regedit
  • Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\command
  • The “(default)” value will be something like this:
"C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice14EXCEL.EXE" /e
  • Append a “%1″ to the end of the “(default)” value, making it:
"C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice14EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"
  • Rename the “command” value, which is right below the “(Default)” value, to “command2″ or something else.
  • Rename the “ddeexec” key to “ddeexec2″ or something else.

After you have done this, your Registry should like similar to this:

 

 …and with that, your Excel spreadsheets should now open in separate windows. 

Enjoy!

 

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9 Responses to “How To Force Windows 7 To Open Excel Spreadsheets in Separate Windows…”

  1. Krystal says:
    February 13, 2012 at 9:44 am

    Chris,

    Thanks for the tip – excited to be able to have two books/spreadsheets open!

    Reply
  2. Mike says:
    March 1, 2012 at 11:20 am

    I tried this with Win7 and office 2010 and it had no effect.

    Reply
  3. Glen says:
    May 31, 2012 at 1:40 am

    Add the code below to a notepad file and save it as a .reg file. once done click on the .reg file and it should import into the registry for you.

    This one will work for windows 7 64bit + Office 2010 32bit with it installed here: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\EXCEL.EXE

    If you have a different version let me know and I will give you the right code for it. I have made about 5 different versions for work. We have office 2007 + office 2010 32bit + 64bit.

    The Fix will be removed after a office update by Microsoft.

    Info I will need to make file for you are:
    *Location of the Office installation
    *version of windows including 32 or 64bit
    *version of office including 32 or 64bit

    Email me: versatile_bfg at hotmail dot com

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell]
    @=”Open”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Edit]
    @=”&Edit”
    “Extended”=”"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Edit\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /dde”
    “command”=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Edit\ddeexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,0)]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Edit\ddeexec\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Edit\ddeexec\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\New]
    @=”&New”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\New\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /dde /n”
    “command”=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,20,00,2f,00,6e,00,00,00,\
    00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\New\ddeexec]
    @=”[new(\"%1\")]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\New\ddeexec\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\New\ddeexec\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open]
    @=”&Open”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /e \”%1\”"
    “command2″=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\ddeexec2]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\ddeexec2\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\ddeexec2\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\OpenAsReadOnly]
    @=”Open as Read-Only”
    “Extended”=”"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\OpenAsReadOnly\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /h /\”%1\”"
    “command2″=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,68,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,\
    00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\OpenAsReadOnly\ddeexec2]
    @=”[open(\"%1\",,,,,,,,,,,,,,1,,1)]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\OpenAsReadOnly\ddeexec2\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\OpenAsReadOnly\ddeexec2\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Print]
    @=”&Print”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Print\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /dde”
    “command”=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Print\ddeexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")][print()][close()]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Print\ddeexec\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Print\ddeexec\ifexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")][print()][quit()]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Print\ddeexec\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Printto]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Printto\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /dde”
    “command”=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Printto\ddeexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")][print(1,,,,,,,,,,,2,\"%2\")][close()]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Printto\ddeexec\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Printto\ddeexec\ifexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")][print(1,,,,,,,,,,,2,\"%2\")][quit()]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Printto\ddeexec\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\ViewProtected]
    @=”Open in Protected &View”
    “Extended”=”"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\ViewProtected\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /e \”%1\”"
    “command2″=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\ViewProtected\ddeexec2]
    @=”[open(\"%1\",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1)]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\ViewProtected\ddeexec2\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\ViewProtected\ddeexec2\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell]
    @=”Open”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Edit]
    @=”&Edit”
    “Extended”=”"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Edit\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /dde”
    “command”=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Edit\ddeexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,0)]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Edit\ddeexec\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Edit\ddeexec\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\New]
    @=”&New”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\New\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /dde /n”
    “command”=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,20,00,2f,00,6e,00,00,00,\
    00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\New\ddeexec]
    @=”[new(\"%1\")]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\New\ddeexec\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\New\ddeexec\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open]
    @=”&Open”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /e \”%1\”"
    “command2″=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open\ddeexec2]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open\ddeexec2\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open\ddeexec2\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\OpenAsReadOnly]
    @=”Open as Read-Only”
    “Extended”=”"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\OpenAsReadOnly\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /h /\”%1\”"
    “command2″=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,68,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,\
    00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\OpenAsReadOnly\ddeexec2]
    @=”[open(\"%1\",,,,,,,,,,,,,,1,,1)]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\OpenAsReadOnly\ddeexec2\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\OpenAsReadOnly\ddeexec2\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Print]
    @=”&Print”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Print\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /dde”
    “command”=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Print\ddeexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")][print()][close()]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Print\ddeexec\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Print\ddeexec\ifexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")][print()][quit()]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Print\ddeexec\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Printto]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Printto\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /dde”
    “command”=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Printto\ddeexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")][print(1,,,,,,,,,,,2,\"%2\")][close()]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Printto\ddeexec\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Printto\ddeexec\ifexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")][print(1,,,,,,,,,,,2,\"%2\")][quit()]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Printto\ddeexec\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\ViewProtected]
    @=”Open in Protected &View”
    “Extended”=”"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\ViewProtected\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /e \”%1\”"
    “command2″=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\ViewProtected\ddeexec2]
    @=”[open(\"%1\",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1)]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\ViewProtected\ddeexec2\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\ViewProtected\ddeexec2\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell]
    @=”Open”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Edit]
    @=”&Edit”
    “Extended”=”"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Edit\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /dde”
    “command”=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Edit\ddeexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,0)]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Edit\ddeexec\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Edit\ddeexec\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\New]
    @=”&New”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\New\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /dde /n”
    “command”=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,20,00,2f,00,6e,00,00,00,\
    00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\New\ddeexec]
    @=”[new(\"%1\")]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\New\ddeexec\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\New\ddeexec\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Open]
    @=”&Open”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Open\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /e \”%1\”"
    “command2″=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Open\ddeexec2]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Open\ddeexec2\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Open\ddeexec2\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\OpenAsReadOnly]
    @=”Open as Read-Only”
    “Extended”=”"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\OpenAsReadOnly\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /h \”%1\”"
    “command2″=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,68,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,\
    00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\OpenAsReadOnly\ddeexec2]
    @=”[open(\"%1\",,,,,,,,,,,,,,1,,1)]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\OpenAsReadOnly\ddeexec2\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\OpenAsReadOnly\ddeexec2\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Print]
    @=”&Print”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Print\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /dde”
    “command”=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Print\ddeexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")][print()][close()]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Print\ddeexec\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Print\ddeexec\ifexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")][print()][quit()]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Print\ddeexec\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Printto]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Printto\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /dde”
    “command”=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Printto\ddeexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")][print(1,,,,,,,,,,,2,\"%2\")][close()]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Printto\ddeexec\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Printto\ddeexec\ifexec]
    @=”[open(\"%1\")][print(1,,,,,,,,,,,2,\"%2\")][quit()]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\Printto\ddeexec\topic]
    @=”system”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\ViewProtected]
    @=”Open in Protected &View”
    “Extended”=”"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\ViewProtected\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\EXCEL.EXE\” /e \”%1\”"
    “command2″=hex(7):78,00,62,00,27,00,42,00,56,00,66,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,\
    21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,21,00,4d,00,4b,00,4b,00,53,00,6b,00,45,00,58,00,43,\
    00,45,00,4c,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,3e,00,56,00,69,00,6a,00,71,00,\
    42,00,6f,00,66,00,28,00,59,00,38,00,27,00,77,00,21,00,46,00,49,00,64,00,31,\
    00,67,00,4c,00,51,00,20,00,2f,00,64,00,64,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\ViewProtected\ddeexec2]
    @=”[open(\"%1\",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1)]”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\ViewProtected\ddeexec2\application]
    @=”Excel”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.SheetMacroEnabled.12\shell\ViewProtected\ddeexec2\topic]
    @=”system”

    Reply
  4. Matt says:
    June 28, 2012 at 9:29 am

    These registry changes were not working for me for some reason — on Win7 64 bit / Office 64 bit. I found the KB on Microsoft’s site which explained very similar steps and that did not work either.

    Though, I ran the “Fix It” utility which solved the issue. Here is the link:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2636670

    Reply
  5. App-V Office Excel 2003 & Excel 2010 File Associations and Opening Multiple Instances from double click « JamesScanlonITKB says:
    September 10, 2012 at 7:01 am

    [...] http://www.coretekservices.com/2011/12/01/how-to-force-windows-7-to-open-excel-spreadsheets-in-separ… [...]

    Reply
  6. David Coe says:
    September 26, 2012 at 11:15 am

    Original post steps works fine on a Win7-32bit and Office Pro Plus (Excel) 2010. Thanks.

    Reply
  7. Geovanni Ortega says:
    May 14, 2013 at 6:30 pm

    Useful.
    I had tried with various solutions with no luck, but this was The Solution for me.
    Just a note..
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\command – Is the key to open Office 2010 based documents.
    In order to it to work for previous versions based files, you have to apply the same changes to
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open\command registry key.
    It Does Work!

    Reply
    • Chris Shalda says:
      May 15, 2013 at 1:07 pm

      @Geovanni

      That’s great to hear this fix helped you out and thanks for the direction regarding legacy versions of Office!

      I’ve noticed that on Windows 8 with Excel 2012 it seems to natively open Excel spreadsheets in separate windows, at least on my machine without any specific modifications that is.

      Reply

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